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Wildcliff Nature Reserve

Dedicated to plant and wildlife conservation in the Cape Floral Kingdom


Restoration Ecology at Wildcliff

Island Pond on WildcliffThe Island Pond

In 2007, shortly after Wildcliff was founded, we excavated a substantial pond in a marshy area of former cattle pasture, below Talari house. Research has shown that farm dams make a significant difference in offering stopovers for birds, and our experience with the Island Pond confirms this. The pond's design incorporates several "restoration ecology" goals:
  • The pond's placement in an open area makes it visible to high-flying waterfowl, such as herons and Egyptian geese
  • The island allows birds to alight without fear of land-based predators. The photo shows some grass and the indigenous willow, Salix mucronata.
  • The pond fills naturally, and has a spillover. The clay retains water well. However floating clay particulates make the water opaque -- ideally we would remedy this by floating hay on the surface. We are told that this will eventually sink, taking the mud particulates down to the bottom
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  • We've piled rocks and logs at several places on the perimeter, providing water hiding places for frogs and other aquatic wildlife, and objects of play for the baboons. We understand that piling hay bales along the edges of the pond helps provide aquatic habitat.
  • The upper slope has suffered erosion in the first year. We have planted some grass to hold the bank, but we would like help with planting more retaining vegetation
  • We've tried planting indigenous trees on the wall around the pond, but stray cows and playful baboons have prevented them from surviving. We'd like help with getting the plantings established, to stabilise the dam walls. Trees we would like to use include Syzygium cordatum and Phoenix reclinata, both suited to that purpose, thriving in permanently boggy soils.
  • These trees, when planted on the top of the dam wall, will prevent erosion, create a shaded and sheltered environment for certain types of plants and provide a good backdrop for the dam, protecting it from the strong winds. They will also interlink when mature providing a ‘corridor’ for shy animals and birds to move between. These particular trees also bear fruit to which a myriad of animals will be attracted ie. birds, baboons, bushpigs. One should always leave one side of the dam/pond with an open approach for birds. This can be planted with low growing plants like small bulbs and groundcovers. 
  • The aquatic reeds and plants such as Aponogeton distachyos and Nymphaea caerulea should eventually cover at least half of the dam’s surface area to reduce sunlight levels and thereby limit the amount of algal growth.  Many of the bulbous species should self seed or multiply themselves.  We've has limited success with waterplants so far; help is needed.
  • Another goal is to populate the pond with indigenous fish, such as  two species that have already been found elsewhere on Wildcliff: Cape Galaxias (Galaxias zebrata), Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii) and Cape Kurper (Sandelia capensis). These species are voracious feeders, effective in keeping down the levels of mosquito larvae (but we have not encountered any mostquito problem so far).
  • A stone path, leading from the house down to the pond's edge, helps one avoid snakes and mud.

Proposed wetland vegetation for Island Pond
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME GROWTH HABIT SIZE AT MATURITY HARDY?
Phoenix reclinata Wild date palm tree 6 m x 4 m hardy
Syzygium cordatum Waterberry tree 11 m x 11 m semi hardy
Gomphostigma virgatum River stars/Otterbush shrub 1.5 m x 1.5 m hardy
Gunnera perpensa River pumpkin shrub 60 cm x 60 cm hardy
Phygelius capensis Cape fuchsia shrub 1 m x 75 cm semi hardy
Phragmites australis Reed reed/grass/sedge 2 m x 2 m hardy
Cyperus papyrus Papyrus reed/grass/sedge 2 m x 1 m hardy
Cyperus textilis Basket grass reed/grass/sedge 1.5 m x 1 m hardy
Dietes grandiflora Wild iris bulb 1 m x 1 m hardy
Dietes bicolor Yellow wild iris bulb 1 m x 1 m hardy
Zantedeschia aethiopica Arum lily bulb 95 cm x 50 cm semi hardy
Nymphaea caerulea Blue waterlily floating aquatic 10 cm x 80 cm hardy
Aponogeton distachyos Cape pondweed floating aquatic 10 cm x 95 cm hardy
Elegia capensis Broom reed reed/grass/sedge 2.5 m x 1.5 m hardy
Juncus effusus Common rush reed/grass/sedge 70 cm x 30 cm hardy
Typha capensis Bulrush reed/grass/sedge 2 m x 60 cm hardy
Wachendorfia thyrsiflora Bloodroot bulb 1 m x 1 m hardy
Hesperantha coccinea Scarlet river lily bulb 50 cm x 20 cm hardy
Kniphofia praecox Red hot poker bulb 1 m x 50 cm hardy
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Heron House at WildcliffAround the Heron House

Another habitat restoration plan is for planting indigenous vegetation in the vicinity of the researchers' lab/residence, Heron House. The area has been cleared of the alien black wattle (Acacia mearnsii). We would like to see someone take responsibility for cultivating plants and landscaping the barren soil with fynbos and other local species.

Research volunteers are expected to participate as teams in removing sections of invasive vegetation, including black wattle and tenacious brambles.


Links & References

  • Indigeneous, Aliens and Invasives in South Africa
  • Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa, by Braam Van Wyk & Piet Van Wyk. Struik Publishers, 1997.
  • Making the Most of Indigenous Trees,  by Fanie & Julye-Ann Venter. Briza Publications, 2005. 2nd ed.

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